American Craft Beer The Best Craft Beer, Breweries, Bars, Brewpubs, Beer Stores, And Restaurants Serving Serious Beer.
We can get snarky about the big beer conglomerates here at American Craft Beer. So it’s only fair that we applaud companies like Anheuser-Busch when they adopt sustainability strategies that could make for a better world!
Designed as part of Anheuser-Busch’s 2025 US Sustainability Goals, Contract for Change supports American barley farmers who want to transition conventional fields to organic production for the first time… a costly process and time-consuming three year process.
Launched under the global brewer’s Michelob ULTRA Pure Gold organic brand, Anheuser-Busch’s program aims to enable the entire organic industry and the growing number of barley growers that support it.
For barley producers who commit to the three year transition and an uncertain future market, Michelob ULTRA will commit to purchasing” the barley grown from the beginning of the transition period through the first year of organic production.”
This is no small commitment Anheuser-Busch’s part….
And as Anheuser-Busch noted in a press release it’s but the latest move in the brewing giant’s long-term focus “on Smart Agriculture and financial empowerment across the company’s 1,000 direct contract barley, rice, and hops farmers.”
This from Azania Andrews, Vice President of Michelob ULTRA…
“We are proud to support the expansion of the organic grains industry by enabling farmers who want to make the transition to produce organic…A quality beer starts with the farmers dedicated to producing the best ingredients.”
And Buzz Mattelin, the President of the National Barley Growers Association was understandably encouraged by the company’s progressive new program…
“I want to congratulate Anheuser-Busch for their innovative Michelob ULTRA ‘Contract for Change’. The contract is a welcomed opportunity for American barley farmers to diversify and capture extra value for their production”
“The purchase guarantees and transitional premiums will aid growers if they choose to transition toward organic production.”
Anheuser-Busch has also pioneered new barley varieties that produce high yields using 40 percent less water. And to reduce the environmental impact of its supply chain, the company committed to converting its entire dedicated fleet truck fleet to renewable power by 2025.
Not bad for a company that has already reduced its total energy use in US breweries by more than 30%.
All image credits: Anheuser-Busch
